credit to Desenho Afro Tumbler
Industry
Just imagine my dissatisfaction at the fact that “almost” an entire industry is geared towards making money by sacrificing our nails and hair.
I started braiding my own hair maybe fifteen years ago, prior to that I would go to personal stylists who were exceptional but costly. I started learning how to do my own braided extensions and crochet braids. It was a journey because along the way I observed so much and was so dismayed about the industry trends concerning natural hair.
Community Initiatives Needed
Many black women own salons but many are refusing to bring their salon up to standard and keep the quality on par with competitors in other communities. Plus everyone else who own services for the black woman, wants our money, exploits the community and do not provide any services to rival the money we spend.
Asian businesses only resell hair and products, and they sell you anything. The don’t care if it is good for our hair or not. There is no education, just stock. Another prevelant and disturbing issue is blatant disrespect for women of color by the asian business owners, and refusal to empower the community they service with employment. More recently I’ve seen these businesses are in fact hiring women of color into their businesses. Kudos to them but it seems the employment is usually as a store clerk, very rarely positions in management, financials, etc. but it’s a start. Let’s see some improvement please.
I would like to see a vast improvement of this is the Asian beauty salons. 100% of their staff are generally Asians and most are freshly immigrated, barely any English and loads of back talking to customers in another language. As significant as we are to business owners financially, then customer service should be radically improved as well as employment to re-circulate in our own communities.
Personal Experiences
I’ve had to cease going to one salon in Brooklyn and more recently another here in Queens, NY due to substandard conditions, poor communication, hygiene and here’s the kicker, the stylist refusal to stop drilling my nails. I saw a marked weakening of my nails and inquired, but was told it had something to do with my nails. So I decided to do a little experiment, as I’m primed to doing whenever hogwash is thrown my way, you see? So I went maybe six months or nine without salons. I removed all nail polish, filed my own nails and did clear only. Of course my nails restored to their original strength and beauty. Foolish me, wanting to have the glitz and fancy, went back again and behold my nails started weakening again. I brought it to the owner’s attention and again they refused to stop using drills.
Dangerous Tools
Drills increase productivity and profit. They can work faster and therefore turn over more customers and ultimately make more money bottom line. No one but the health department can enforce this madness. I won’t get into the negative effects of the nail drying techniques using the acrylics and gel. Consistent and long-term use of these ultraviolet light may not contradict our original intent, which is to take care of ourselves, look our best but these methods of application and drying may not be the most holistic. I’ve attached a link to research and educate on the dangers of the gel method and perhaps other alternatives to get beautiful nails Potential dangers to Gel polish
But ladies just think about your nails and how much money you are pouring into having acrylics, gels and tips. Is it worth it? Try it for 30 60 days and free yourself of the financial burden of keeping your own nails beautiful – except under the surface your nails are a hot mess.
We just want to be naturally beautiful
Our hair is an entirely different story. The industry has to improve overall. These businesses if they are going to operate in our community have to be vested there as well. Only you can impact on this issue ladies. Want change and better yet empower your community more. Start by ensuring your local businesses are hiring local girls, banking in your community and supporting community endeavors. You will see their true colors soon enough. We can be beautiful without compromising our natural selves, while empowering our communities, by ensuring some basic rules are established and followed.
Crystal
